Forestry Technician (Smokejumper Training Specialist) - Direct Hire Authority.

Duties

• Parachutes into rugged terrain and performs fire suppression and related duties.
• Serves as an Initial Attack Incident Commander.
• Maintains smokejumper and firefighting equipment, tools, and supplies.
• Directs fireline activities and tactics of firefighters, resources, equipment, and aircraft.
• Serves as a parachute rigger to repair, pack and maintain parachutes and related smokejumper parachute equipment.
• Provides the necessary annual fire training to returning smokejumpers and training cadre.
• Develops and provides standardized parachute training techniques.
• Oversees an instructor cadre of highly skilled smokejumpers to provide fire and parachute training.
• Documents and evaluates the performance of individuals, maintains records that identify performance trends, and provides individual consultation as needed.
• Ensures logistical needs of jump operations, aircraft use, and gear issue are met. Coordinates with cooperators for the use of public lands during training.
  
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Be sure to read the HOW TO APPLY and REQUIRED DOCUMENTS Sections.
• You cannot hold an active real estate license; nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Land.
• Direct Deposit Required.
• Background Investigation Required.
• Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination. Failure to possess or obtain a favorable determination will result in the cancellation of the offer or will be grounds for termination.
• You must meet specified levels on annual physical fitness tests, and pass periodic medical exams for wildland fire personnel, commensurate with current incident management qualification.
• You must be 18 years of age or older to be assigned to a hazardous position.
• You must also pass the work capacity test for arduous positions.
• Applicant(s) tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use and to pass the test prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
• This position requires regular and recurring overtime and shift work during peak fire season.
• May require completion of a one year probationary period.
• Applicants appointed to this position must POSSESS and maintain a valid state driver's license.
  
  

Qualifications

• This vacancy announcement has been EXTENDED; previous applicants need not REapply ** Applicants who previously applied do not need to apply again to be considered but may take this opportunity to update information/resume/responses or submit required documentation outlined in the vacancy announcement.
  
  

Specialized Experience Requirements

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement(s); please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled. To qualify for the GS-08 grade level, 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 is required. Examples of work experience include, but are not limited to: prior smokejumper experience in suppression/control of forest or range wildfire; making strategic and tactical decisions on wildland fires; and experience leading smokejumpers and/or other fire resources.

Substitution Of Education For Experience

Two full years (36 semester hours) of GRADUATE level college education or received a master's degree in a field related to range work such as a major study in forestry, range management, agriculture or a field directly related to this position; OR an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Selective Placement Factor(s): This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified.

• This position is a Primary Firefighter position and is subject to a maximum entry age (MEA). The MEA is the date immediately preceding your 37th birthday. Applicants must not have reached age 37 at the time of appointment, unless proof is provided of prior Federal service in another primary covered position, or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application may result in loss of consideration. Please refer to the Required Documents section for further guidance on what documentation is required to meet this requirement. If over the MEA and you are not a veteran, proof of prior covered service must be submitted prior to employment. Acceptable proof consists of SF-50s showing beginning and ending dates of covered/creditable appointments and copies of approved letters based on individual claims.
• Prior smokejumping experience required. This experience must be documented in the online application or resume with specific to AND from dates (MM/YY), description of work performed, AND hours worked per week.
  
  

You must meet all qualification and selective placement factor requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: The incumbent must be able to work under extreme physical exertion regularly working 16 hour shifts or longer on the fireline. Work on the fireline requires considerable strenuous physical exertion, e.g., long periods of standing; digging; bending; kneeling; running chainsaws; and hiking over rough, uneven, rocky surfaces and through wooded or brush areas. These activities can be performed day or night, when the incumbent may be required to respond immediately from a sedentary activity to an extremely arduous activity. This can include carrying a 120 pound pack for up to 5 miles or more through rugged terrain. Incumbent is expected to parachute into this remote terrain under hazardous conditions. The duties of this position are so rigorous that an annual physical examination and smokejumper fitness tests are required to ensure that the employee assigned can perform the duties without physical injury to self or others. Employees must meet the arduous physical and medical standards identified in the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations. The incumbent must be prepared, at all times, to respond to a fire situation requiring the quick escape from a potentially fast moving fire in extreme terrain.

Work Environment: Fifty percent of the work is performed out of doors in a wide variety of weather and terrain conditions or in a crowded airplane.

Meals frequently consist of cold rations and sleeping accommodations may be a sleeping bag and a piece of plastic. Forty percent of the work is done in a warehouse setting at a rapid pace to efficiently respond to the supply needs of emerging incidents. The remainder of work is accomplished in a sometimes tense and stressful office environment. Incumbent risks death or serious injury during parachute jumps, cargo dropping, or firefighting.

This is a primary firefighter position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). The position is subject to maximum entry age (MEA) requirements. The MEA for this position shall not exceed age 37. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. See Required Documents Section.

FACT SHEET For Fire Positions

Education

See Qualifications Section.

Additional information

This is a permanent seasonal appointment; you will be in a pay status for at least 6 months, but less than 12 months a year. When work or funds are not available you will be placed in non-pay status. Your initial appointment may be less than 6 months due to date of hire.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. Information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility is available from OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

CTAP and ICTAP eligibles will be considered well qualified if they exceed minimum qualifications for this position.

Reemployment Priority List (RPL): The RPL is the mechanism agencies use to give reemployment consideration to their former competitive service employees separated by a RIF or who have fully recovered from a compensable injury after more than one year. If you are currently on a RPL, you may be given priority consideration.

Certain incentives, such as, Recruitment, Relocation, or Student Loan Repayment, may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis, and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit:

The BLM has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees. Smoking will be permitted only in designated areas.